Phathutshedzo Mbedzi, a Grade 12 learner who has been behind bars since May last year for fatally stabbing a classmate at the Jack Lavhengwa Secondary School, briefly appeared in the Thohoyandou High Court, facing a murder charge last Monday.

Mbedzi (20) from Fondwe Village near Thohoyandou, allegedly stabbed and killed his classmate, Matodzi Ramunenyiwa (20), during lunchtime in May last year. Ramunenyiwa was stabbed once in the chest and died.

Mbedzi, a slender young man with sharp eyes, entered the dock wearing blue sandals, brown trousers and a T-shirt. He was quiet and avoided eye contact with the parents of the deceased.

The case was postponed to September 6 this year for his lawyer and the state prosecutor to finalise some logistical aspects.

Judge Godfrey Hetisani ordered the 16 witnesses, of whom the majority are learners, to come back in September to testify.

The sister of the deceased, Tshililo Ramunenyiwa, said she wanted to see the killer going to jail for life. She said Mbedzi had devastated her family and that these wounds to her soul could not be healed.

Ramunenyiwa further said the family was not happy with the manner in which the Torch of Peace function was conducted at the Jack Lavhengwa Secondary School three weeks ago. “They just invited us to be part of the event, but they didn’t say anything or a word of consolation to us. They just spent a lot of money on catering and it was like my family was just invited to celebrate the death of their loved one,” she said.